to ability. I will give a specimen of shall die ?''No.'— Then you should the answers given by the first class, be always ready?' 'Yes. Why?' after reading Gen. xii., and shutting 'Because if we die without salvation, their book. Mr. Weitbrecht acted as there is no hope.'-Then some of the interpreter, “Who was Abraham?' boys were examined upon the Sermon "A pious man.'- What promise did on the Mount, and other parts of the God give him ?'"“ I will bless them Gospels; and the Bishop urged upon that bless thee, and curse him that them the infinite importance of their curseth thee;" and another boy add obeying the dictates of conscience, ed, ““And 'in thee shall all families and not violating their convictions. of the earth be blessed."'-'How was Confirmation and Visits to the this last part of the promise fulfilled?' Christian Villagers.-On Wednesday, One boy said, 'In David : ' another, the Bishop went over to the Mission 'In Jesus Christ.'-'When did Jesus again. This day was set apart for Christ come into the world ?''About visiting the Mission itself: the 1840 years ago.'-'Where was He flourishing English school in the born ?: 'In Bethlehem, a town of city for Heathen and Mahommedan Judea.'—What did He come to do?' boys, and the Bengalee schools of 'To work salvation.'-'What did He the villages-the two outworks of the do to work salvation ?' ' He shed his Mission had been examined. We blood.'-' Did Jesus declare that He assembled in the Church; and the was of Abraham's seed?' 'Yes.' services began by the bishop baptiz• And did the Jews receive Him as ing an infant of Mr. Linke's. “ All the promised Saviour ?''No.'-' Did the Christian orphans living on the Abraham see Christ's day?' 'Yes.' premises were present, as well as • When?' 'When he offered up some of the villagers. After this, the Isaac.'-' How?' 'He was a type of native teacher in the English school, Christ.'— Abraham made an altar: Koilash, was married to Peearee, a what were the sacrifices which he young woman who had been brought offered upon it?' 'Sheep, lambs, up in the Female Orphan School, and and goats.'-'Could they take away has lately been one of the teachers. sin ?' One said, Yes; ' another said, Koilash and Peearee now live in a 'No; 'a third said, “Without shed house in the native village. The serding of blood is no remission.' vices closed with a confirmation; • What was set forth by these sacri when about twenty young persons, fices ?' 'Jesus Christ.'--Yes, but including the newly-married couple, what was set forth?' "The blood of took upon themselves the vows made Jesus Christ,' one said; another, for them in baptism. The Bishop "The sacrifice of Christ.'-'Have the examined them upon the Catechism; Hindoos any sacrifices ?' 'Yes.' and also made an affectionate ad'How is that? where did they learn this dress, through the interpretation of practice?' 'From tradition.'— Are Mr. Weitbrecht. The Church is a their sacrifices of any use?' 'No.'-. neat building, just adapted to the • Why?' 'Because the blood of bulls Mission congregation. We went and goats cannot take away sin.' through the village, and were highly 'If the Hindoos turn to Christ, then, gratified with the neatness and cleanthey will understand the value of His liness of the native houses. There sacrifice ?' 'Yes; because His blood are twenty-one families now residing cleanseth from all sin.'-' Are the on the compound. Each has a little Hindoos happy in their religion?! garden before the house to cultivate. 'How can they be? they belong to There are also on the premises six the caste of Satan.' widows with children ; 30 orphan The same boys were then examined girls and 30 orphan boys, all in school. in Ellerton's Scripture History on the This little Christian colony has sprung fall of man, and in the histories of up under the careful superintendence Joseph, Cain and Abel, and our Lord. and the active exertions of the MisThey were asked, “Must all Hindoos sionaries and their predecessors. believe in Christ if they wish to go to The villagers are, as may be ex heaven ?' 'Yes; if they do not, they pected, in various stages of Christian must go to hell-fire.' – Do you be knowledge and grace. They are as lieve? 'We should.'-' Will Jesus orderly and attentive as the same Christ come again?' 'Yes, to judge number of Christians taken out of the world.'-'Will He judge you?' any English village. 'Yes.'-'Do you know when you Christian Orphans.-The rising ge- tion. Although only about twelve neration, however, are the hope of years old, they had made considerthe Mission. On Thursday we went able progress; and were decidedly to examine the Christian Orphans. superior to the others, who were First, the girls came up, and read older. This is partly to be accountthe Bengalee Testament; four of ed for by their having been brought them read also in English very well. up, from their earliest years, to the They were examined in the Sermon Infant School. Their pronunciation on the Mount, and also on the Para of English was admirable. The misble of the Prodigal Son. I was very sionaries speak most encouragingly much struck with the pleasing con of the symptoms of piety in these lads, trast between the meekness and sub- and look forward to their becoming dụed feeling of the Christians, both useful catechists. The other boys boys and girls, and the boisterous are learning different trades and ocmanner and eager rivalry of the Ben- cupations, as tailors and carpenters. galee Classes that were examined on Several of the elder girls have been Monday. After the Orphan Boys, married lately; but the school is sup. who read Bengalee only, had been plied by others, from among the brought up, four, who read and speak children of the villagers. English, underwent a close examina EARTHQUAKE IN ST. DOMINGO. The following affecting account of the late earthquake at St. Domingo, and of the providential escape of the Rev. Mr. Bird and his family, has been furnished by himself and another Wesleyan missionary, at present residing in that island. EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM THE REV. WILLIAM TOWLER, DATED PORTE AU . You will most likely have learned by a more direct conveyance than I can now avail myself of, the awful visitation which this island has just experienced. On Saturday, May 7, about five o'clock in the afternoon, we had three violent shocks of an earthquake, the two last of which were the most powerful. The surrounding mountains and trees, and the houses of this city, reeled to and fro like a drunken man; “the earth trembled at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob." Even whilst thinking and writing of it, it makes me dizzy. The Missionhouse rolled so much, as to throw over the chairs and water-jars; the books and bottles of medicine in my study were cast from the shelves to the floor; and most of the houses of the city were affected in the same manner. A range of stone and brick buildings, consisting of dwellinghouses and stores, were in a moment laid in ruins; but the greater part of the houses, and all our lives, have been mercifully spared. Glory be to God for his great goodness to us! 'It has not been thus with some of the neighbouring cities. Santiago, sixty miles in the interior, is in ruins : many were killed at the time, and many are now suffering from want of the necessaries of life. CapeHaytien, built of stone, was overtaken with sudden destruction. Whilst all were occupied in their usual business, their houses shook and fell, burying many of the inhabitants in the ruins, maiming others, and in a moment sending many into eternity. In a wonderful manner (for such it must have been) our brother Bird and his family are saved. I have not had a letter from him; but I received a verbal message from a friend. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." We have heard that some of the smaller towns on the coast are sunk, and overwhelmed with water. How terrible is He in his doings towards the children of men! "At Porte au Plaat we had another shock, but not so violent, on Saturday night, and again very early on Sunday morning. During divine service we had another, which caused the chapel to rock, and the timbers to creak. We have also had several slight ones since. The inhabitants of the place were thrown into the greatest alarm and confusion; they ran from their houses, and fell upon their knees; and even those who call themselves infidels were com- trophe, I was sitting reading in the pelled to acknowledge God, and balcony of our house, which projected prayed to him to have mercy upon into the street; Mrs. Bird was in a them at that awful moment. The room three stories high, with our Spanish Priest had all his people out youngest and eldest child. Our serin a short time, who walked in pro vant was in the kitchen with our cession through the town, headed by second child; and a young person a wooden figure of St. Philip, dressed living with us, was in the act of walkas a Bishop, borne on the shoulders ing from one part of the house to the of men, before which were candles other. At the moment I felt the burning, and incense waving. Many shock, I started from my chair, and of the American part of the popula- soon became confounded, not knowtion came to our chapel, and spent ing whether to run backward or forsome time in prayer. On Sunday ward ; and in this moment of inconmorning, our place of worship was ceivable agitation, the entire wall filled before the usual hour. There from which the balcony was prowas a solemnity of expression upon jected where I was sitting, fell, and every countenance: all seemed to I was precipitated with it into the feel that God had spoken to them. general ruin; the height from which At the close of the service many I was thrown might have been eighcried aloud to God to have mercy teen or twenty feet, but I scarcely upon their souls : they felt unpre- felt the fall; and, when down, was pared to die, and great was their astonished to find myself in existence, lamentation. In the afternoon, the although almost suffocated with the chapel was crowded, and again in dust which arose from this fearful the evening, at the French service. and general crash. In this condition Nearly all the stores were closed on I remained for some seconds; during the Sunday, as also on the last Sun- which time the earth continued to day : until now this has been the tremble, and, having no idea but that greatest day of commerce. The na a beam, or some falling wall, would tives regard the earthquake as a soon send me into eternity, Í comvisitation from God for their sins, mended my spirit to God my Saand seem to be reminded and im- viour; but his great mercy suffered pressed particularly about their Sab me to live. When the dense cloud of bath-breaking. Most of the females dust had passed over, I arose, and have habited themselves in dresses beheld nothing but one vast scene of of brown linen, as a token of peni ruin, which extended to the utmost tence. O that it were a rending of limits of the fine city of Cape Haythe heart, and not merely a change tien, with here and there one emergof the garments !'. ing from the ruins, which I could The following letter from Mr. compare to nothing but a resurrecBird contains a graphic description tion. But an intense anxiety soon of the awful scene which he wit- seized me for my wife and children; nessed, and of the escape of himself and knowing that my beloved wife and family. was in the upper room previous to the event, I rushed to the place, and EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM THE REV. on my way met our servant at the M. B. BIRD, DATED ON BOARD THE kitchen door with our second child “ACTIVE” BRIG, IN THE HABOUR in her arms quite safe. My ascent OF CAPE HAYTIEN, MAY 12, 1842. to my dear wife and children was partly over the ruins of our house, 'I avail myself of the first oppor and partly up two staircases which tunity to inform you, that, about five had been dreadfully shaken, and were o'clock in the afternoon of the 7th quite unsafe ; but my intense anxinstant, the entire of Cape Haytien iety overcame all sense of danger, was in a few seconds involved in one and I soon reached the room, where common ruin by an earthquake. The escape of myself and family dren on the floor, having been viofrom the general destruction is such lently thrown from their seats by the an instance of the interference of shock. My joy at finding them safe Divine Providence, as neither time was such as no language could exnor eternity will be able to obliterate press. My next anxiety was for the from my memory. young person who was living with . At the time of this awful catas- us, and who was in the act of walking from one part of the house to the fallen timbers among the ruins took other at the time the house fell. Not fire, caused, no doubt, by the fire of seeing her, I concluded she must be the different kitchens, which must dead; but I afterwards found her have been an awful addition to the alive aud unhurt. Thus, by divine agonies of those whose death was not goodness and mercy, our whole instantaneous. Household has been suffered to escape 'But, as though this guilty people from one of the most awful visitations had not filled up the measure of their of God, that has ever been recorded iniquities, this awful judgment of God on the page of history. had no sooner taken place, than the 'Having got my family together, work of plunder commenced by the we hastened over the ruins-for there people who soon came in from the were no longer any streets, no, not interior; so that each one who sought even one street that was not filled up his own amongst the ruins, consiwith the ruins of the houses from dered it necessary to arm himself both sides—to the sea-side ; but we with pistol and sword; and thus had no sooner got there than we were every man's hand seemed to be terrified with the idea, that we should turned against his fellow. This can be overwhelmed by the sea, which, the more easily be imagined as takfor a few moments, rushed towards ing place, when it is considered that the town; but our heavenly Father so many of the authorities had fallen saved us from this. As soon as it victims, and that, consequently, all was possible, I got into one of the rule and order were necessarily susboats in the harbour, and, with many pended. more, went off to a German brig, the The towns and villages in the Active, commanded by Mr. J. Beck neighbourhood of the Cape are all man, whose unbounded hospitality prostrate ; but we have not yet heard and kindness have rendered him wor what the fate of the capital is. thy of our sincerest gratitude. Thank 'We are, as you will necessarily God, whose mercy has thus found an suppose, in a state of destitution; asylum for my dear wife, who had having only escaped with our lives, not been confined three weeks when and simply the clothes we had on. this overwhelming event took place, My library, clothes for myself and and who had not ventured out of the family, together with a considerable house since her confinement, until sum of the Committee's money, are she had to climb over the ruins of lost; and whether I shall ever be this fallen city; but hitherto neither able to recover them is exceedingly she nor the dear infant has been at doubtful; for as our house did not all the worse. completely fall, its ruins are very To give you anything like an dangerous to approach. But a slight adequate description of this awful shock would be required, to bring calamity, would be utterly impossible. the whole down upon whoever might It is one of those events which over attempt to rescue anything; and whelm the imagination, and baffle all these shocks have been repeated description. Picture to yourselves, many times since the fall of the dear Sirs, the suddenness of the visi town. tation, literally, “as a thief in the I am, at present, at a loss to know night,”-the groans of the dying, the which way to turn; but if I hear cries of those who were imploring that Port au Prince is in existence, help from under the ruins, without it is my intention to proceed thither any possibility of being rescued, the by the first opportunity. Or, if it continuance of the shocks, the rush should prove that Port au Plaat is of the sea towards the ruined city; still standing, I shall perhaps make in fine, think of one of the finest and my way thither. In fact, I have no most strongly built cities in the West idea of leaving Port Hayti, if it be Indies, with a population of about at all possible to remain at it. I may, nine thousand, cast down in a mo- however, be necessitated, for the ment by Omnipotence, and two- time being, to go to Turk's Island, thirds of the population buried in an and remain there until I can ascerinstant, in one common grave, and tain what is the real condition of you will have some faint idea of a Hayti. But I have unbounded conscene which it wrings my heart with fidence in the Providence of God; anguish to think of. In the night and believe that our path will be which succeeded the earthquake, the made plain.' THE CHRISTIAN GUARDIAN AND DISTRICT VISITORS' AND SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS' MAGAZINE, I'N CONNECTION WITH THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND. SEPTEMBER, 1842. SHORT LECTURES ON THE COLLECTS. FOR THE USE OF FAMILIES AND SUNDAY SCHOOLS. FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. The Prayer which we offer up in this Collect, is a prayer for the Church. “ Keep thy Church;” that is, the Church of God. First, the prayer is general : then a plea is added : and finally, the prayer is urged more largely and importunately. 1. First we pray in general terms, that the Lord would, by his perpetual mercy, keep and preserve his Church. Of his own free grace, it hath pleased God to take out of the midst of this present evil world a body of persons, whom he makes specially his own : they are “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people ;” appointed to “ shew forth the praises of him, who hathi called them out of darkness into his marvellous light.” (1 Peter i. 9.) As one generation of men succeeds to another, new members are continually added to this spiritual body, whereof Christ is the glorious Head : and over this body the Lord hath exercised, and in answer to prayer will ever continue to exercise bis gracious government, superintendence and care. It was his mercy that first laid the plan for the redemption of sinners. The pity of our Lord Jesus Christ led him to purchase the Church with his own blood. It is free grace that calls any one individual believer out of his natural state of sin. The same grace, and this grace alone, will keep liim from falling. The same mercy will finally crown believers with eternal glory, and grace will be the song of the Church triumphant. When, at length, the building of this spiritual temple is completed, “ the head-stone thereof shall be brought forth with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace, unto it.” (Zech. iv. 7.) SEPTEMBER, 1842. 2 U |